RV Sewer Hose Support options for better flow
An RV sewer hose support is a useful (and sometimes required) accessory for any RVer staying more than a day at a campground. It will help the hose to maintain the correct angle to keep water and waste flowing through. In this article we’ll talk about why you’ll want one and what your options are.
Table of Contents
- What is an RV Sewer Hose Support?
- Why do I need an RV Sewer Hose Support?
- RV sewer hose setups and number of supports needed
- What should I look for when shopping for an RV sewer hose support?
- What is the best RV Sewer Hose Support?
- Using an RV sewer hose support
- Conclusion
What is an RV Sewer Hose Support?
An RV sewer hose support does exactly what you’d think – it supports the sewer hose that runs from your RV or camper to the septic hookup at a campsite. It helps maintain the flow of grey water and black water from your RV to the sewer hookup at your campsite. Depending on if you have an old-style hookup, a new-style hookup or multiple outlets will determine your use and how many you need. Seasonal campers who have their RV hooked up to hard pipe (PVC) will not need one of these. (I’ll publish an article on how to hard pipe your RV soon).
Why do I need an RV Sewer Hose Support?
There are several reasons you will want one or more of these:
1. It creates a slope for the hose to rest on
When plumbers install waste drain pipe (the pipes running from your toilets and sinks) out to the septic or sewer outlet, they make sure the pipe is always sloped down. They slope the pipes so the water and waste will drain. If they didn’t, the water and waste would sit in the pipes.
The same is true for your RV sewer hose. It needs to be sloped down toward the sewer outlet. The difference here is that the RV sewer hose is flexible, and without something to support it, the hose will droop down to the ground and lay flat. This means no slope to carry away the water and waste, causing it to sit in the hose and not drain.
If the water and waste does not drain, it will still be there when you disconnect This could cause water and waste to spill out when you do disconnect, or also dry in the hose itself. Yuck.
2. It keeps the sewer hose in place
RV sewer hoses are made to stretch and compress, so you can get the most distance from your RV to the sewer outlet, but still shrink down the hose for easy storage. The challenge is that the hose is very flexible and is easily stretched when large amounts of water flow through it. Using a RV sewer hose support will keep the hose from stretching and wriggling around on the ground like a snake. This helps to eliminate any bends where the water and waste could collect.
3. It keeps the hose off the ground
Many campgrounds offer a concrete pad to park your RV, but most have you park on gravel or dirt. Your RV sewer hose can get damaged by debris on the ground and risk puncturing a hole which makes for a very messy situation and no way to empty your holding tanks. Also, if you are parked in a dirt spot and it’s wet, your hose can get muddy and make a big mess when you are trying to pack up. An RV sewer hose support will remove these risks and keep your hose safely off the ground.
4. In some places, it’s required
There are several campgrounds that actually require you to keep your RV sewer hose off the ground. Not doing so can result in penalties. Aside from the reasons I’ve already listed, having a hose support could keep you out of trouble, too.
RV sewer hose setups and number of supports needed
There are only a few RV sewer hose configurations
- single sewer outlet on a trailer or newer drivable camper- for this configuration, you have a single hose running from your RV to the sewer hookup. You will need one support.
- Dual sewer outlets on a trailer – for this configuration, you likely already have two sewer hoses that meet at a Tee that then connects into the sewer hookup. You will need two supports (one for each hose).
- Older drivable camper or rental camper – for some reason, these come with hoses that don’t have the gasket connection on the sewer hookup side and the hose just goes in the hole. You will need one support.
What should I look for when shopping for an RV sewer hose support?
When shopping for a hose support, you should look for the model you choose to be:
Compact – camper storage space is always at a premium, and the model you choose shouldn’t take up too much space
Easy to use – pulling into campground late or in the rain means you want quick setup, so an easy-to-use model will save you time and effort
Durable – choose a model that will hold up when stuffed into the storage compartment along with everything else, and won’t break the first time you use it
What is the best RV Sewer Hose Support?
We looked at a few different models before ultimately choosing one that worked for us. I first shopped at the place where we bought our RV, where I found many accessories to be overpriced. I then went on to look at Wal-mart, which only had one model, and I wasn’t impressed. After having the opportunity to see them in person at the retail stores I ultimately ended up ordering mine from Amazon.
Camco Sidewinder RV Sewer Hose Support
- Features a Lightweight, Flexible, and Durable Frame
- Curve Around Obstacles
- 10 Feet, Black
This model is great for occasional use. It’s not as durable as the aluminum model or the heavy plastic Thetford model, but it still does the trick.
Camco Aluminum Sewer Hose Support
- Supports Sewer Hoses Up to 15′
- Includes Strap Kit to Secure Your Hose in Place
- Durable Construction
- Lightweight Design
This model is great for frequent use, and is still pretty lightweight relative to the similar plastic model.
Thetford Titan RV Sewer Hose Support
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Bright green
This model is great if you have the extra space and you’re concerned about the support getting knocked over in the weather. The bright green color is pretty cool too, so you don’t trip over it in dim light.
Using an RV sewer hose support
While it’s important to have a proper support for your RV sewer hose, it’s also important to set it up correctly. Setting it up improperly can be as bad or worse than not having one at all.
- Make sure the unit is fully extended so it doesn’t wobble. Failing to stabilize it will allow it to tip over when there is a large amount of flow or in windy weather.
- Don’t use too much hose. Connecting two long extensions together can cause the hose to expand at the bottom of the slope while laying flat. This will cause the wastewater to pool at the bottom of the slope.
- If you have two outlets, use two RV sewer hose supports. Using one into the Tee and the other hose laying flat on the ground will result in the waste water flowing back into the flat hose.
For reference, here is a picture of how not to do it. A fellow camper used the extension hose and it’s bunched up at the bottom.
Conclusion
I ultimately ended up purchasing the plastic Camco model since my 5th wheel doesn’t really move much. This was be the best option for the money for occasional use.
